Bottle capping machine



y 1937. w. I. GLADFELT ER 2,081,809

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Original Filed July 29, 1932 4 Sheerts-Sheet 1 y1937- w. GLADFELTER 2,081,809

I BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Original Filed July 29, 1932VIII/MI, g

May 25 1937.

W. l. GLADFELTER BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE Original Filed July 29,- 1932 4Sheets-Sheet 3 May 25, 1937.

w. l. GL ADFEL TER BOTTLE CAPPINGMACHINE Original Filed July 29, 1932Sheets-Sheet 4 Egg Qnnentor Mfie l 67aaj e A I (Ittomer Patented May 25,1937 'I v UNITED STATES BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Wiltie r. Gladfelter,Baltimore, Md.,' assignor to Crown Cork & Seal Company, -Inc.,Baltimore, Md.,- a corporation of New York Original application July 29,1932, Serial No. 626,151. Divided and this application January 23, 1935,Serial No. 3,176

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved machine for handling andtreating bottles. More particularly, it relates to a machine forapplying closures of the crown cap type to a previously filled bottle,although many features of the machine may be readily applied to amachine adapted to fill bottles, or to a machine adapted to both filland cap bottles. therefore, that, although the specific embodiment ofthe invention shown in the accompanying drawings and described in thespecification is applied to a bottle capping machine, the inventionis'not limited thereto, but may be readily used with other types ofmachines.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide new andadvantageous means for handling bottles in the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine which maybe readily changed over from operation on one size bottle to operationon another size bottle.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a novel form ofbottle rest which facilitates the above-mentioned change-over.Furthermore, the novel form of bottle rest permits automatic cleaningthereof to remove foreign material such as broken glass or the like, sothat a new bottle positioned on the rest will be supported in properupright relation, and will not be tilted by reason of foreign matter onthe bottle supporting surface of the rest.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a member which willautomatically function to remove such foreign matter from the bottlerest.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine having agreatly simplified power driving system, whichis not only efiicient inoperation, but is also inexpensive to manufacture and accessible foradjustment and repair.

Another important feature of themachine of the present invention relatesto a novel means of feeding and delivering crown caps to the severalcapping heads associated with the machine. This means comprises animproved form of crown wiping device, and an air blast device foraccelerating the movement of the crowns in the crown feeding chute.

In the accompanying drawings, a specific embodiment of the machine ofth'epresent inven-- tion is illustrated. It is to be understood that.the machine disclosed in the drawings and described below is anillustrative embodiment only;

' and the scope of the invention is not confined It will be apparent,

to the details thereof except as specifically-hm ited' in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine with the bottle capping headremoved.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view looking toward therear, taken on planes substantially parallel to the front of the machineof Figure 1,- showing certain parts in section and other parts inelevation.

Figure 3 is a transverse view, partly in elevation and partly insection, looking from the discharge end toward the infeed end of themachine. I

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the cap delivery chute andassociated parts.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view of Figure-4, showing certainparts in plan.

Figures 6 and 7 show details of the crown wiper of the invention, and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 5.

The present application is a prior application, Serial No. 626,151,filed July 29, 1932, for Bottle handling machine and control therefor.Reference is made to the prior application for a detailed disclosure ofcertain parts of the apparatus, relating to the bottle conveying andhandlingmechanism and the machine control. The present application isconfined to the bottle capping turret and associated parts.

Referring to Figure'l of the drawings, it will be noted that bottles tobe capped are carried along on an endless conveyor 20 past an infeedbottle timing device represented generally by reference character 2| toan infeed spider 22, Opposite the spider, there is disposed a movableguard member 23 which is adapted to actuate an air control valveassembly 24, in case an improperly positioned bottle is received by thespider. Thus, if a bottle, from any cause, should become tipped over,the spiderwould force the same into contact with the guard 23 which, inturn,,would actuate the valve of the assembly 24 to cut off the supplyof actuating air to the air 'clutch- 25 and stop the machine, all ofwhich is particularly described in my prior application, aforesaid.

From the infeed spider 22, bottles are transferred to a capping headspider 26, where they are carried around, capped, and conveyed to thedischarge spider 2'I.v

This discharge spider conveys the capped bottles to the discharge end 28of the conveyor 20, by which instrumentality the bottles are carried toa labeling machineor the like.

division of my Associated with the conveyor at a point adjacent thedischarge end of the machine, is another movable guard 29 connectedthrough a suitable link and lever system with a second air control valveassembly 30. This assembly is arranged to also cutoff the supply of airpressure delivered to the clutch 25 to stop the machine, and the valveis actuated by an improperly positioned bottlebeing discharged from themachine by the discharge spider 21. Thus, if a bottle should become.tipped over prior to its discharge from the machine, the machine willbe stopped, so that the bottle may be removed before it is conveyed tothe labeling machine or the like. outfeed conveyor. should be jammed dueto the labeler being stopped, orfrom any other cause,

. the guard 29 will be actuated.

The structure of the upper bottle supporting surface of the severalbottle rests of the present machine is an important feature of thisinvention, because this structure accomplishes certain new andadvantageous results. It has been customary in the past to provide theupper end of each vertically reciprocating bottle rest with a socketmember having a circular depression corresponding to the shape of thebottle to be supported. "When it was desired to change the machine so asto operate upon a different size of bottle, it was necessary to removeeach of these socket members and install differently shaped ones.Necessarily, this change over consumed a substantial amount of time andcaused a delay in the bottling operation.'

bottle rests with a plane uninterrupted upper sur- The bottle rest ofthe present invention is provided with a plane, smooth, anduninterrupted upper bottle receiving surface. The upper portion I M"(Fig. 2) of the bottle rest is provided with an inset of rubber or thelike IOI and the upper surface thereof is substantially smooth and hasno upstanding marginal flange. The bottles are pushed onto the rests bymeans of the infeed spider 22, and are accurately positioned withrespect to the several capping heads by the side walls I02 of thecapping head spider 28. I have found that theconventional bottlereceiving recess in the bottle rests of present day machines is whollyunnecessary to a proper positioningof bottles. Consequently. when it isdesired to change the machine of my invention from operation upon onesize of bottle to another, it is only necessary to remove the two halvesof the capping head spider 26. Y

Another important advantage of forming the face resides in the facilitywith which they may be cleaned. If, in-machines of the type commonlyemployed today, a bottle is by chance broken during the cappingoperation, the resulting fragments of broken glass become lodged in thecorners of the recess in the socket members, and any bottles fed to thesockets before these fragments are removed will be improperly seated andim-' properly presented to the capping heads, with the result that thesesubsequent bottles also are likely to be broken. Therefore, prior tomyinventibn, it was necessary-in order to remove all fragments ofbrokenglass, to stop the maohlnesand carefully cleaneach socket.

Automatic means are provided for'substantially wiping-the several bottlesupporting surfaces d'ui ing each revolution of the machine. 1 Thismeans comprises a bracket IOI presenting a vertical wall extending fromthe point adjacent the central capping head post I' l! underzthe spider2! out Also in case the wardly around the discharge spider 21. Thisbracket serves as a guide for bottles being discharged from the machine,and the vertical wall thereof terminates in an edge I01 closelyoverlying the upper surface of eachbottle rest as it passes thereunder.This edge also contacts the main platform of the machine and closelyoverlies the conveyor 20. As a result, any broken glass or other trashlying upon the upper surface of the bottle rests is wiped therefrom bythis member, is, transported to the conveyor 20, and is carried therebyfrom the machine. Thus, 'if a bottle should become broken by accident inthe machine 'of the present invention, it is unnecessary to stop themachine and clean off the bottlerests, because all fragments of glasswill be automatically removed.

Referring now to the novel features of the invention disclosed inFigures 4 to 8 inclusive, a crown feeding chute I20 of substantiallyconventional form is disclosed. This chute is designed to deliverclosure caps to each of the several capping heads I2i as they pass bythe mouth of the chute. Each capping head is provided with a crownreceiving platform 122, in accordance with present day practice.

Because of the'high speed with which the machine of this inventionoperates, it has been found necessary to provide means for acceleratingthe delivery of crown caps down the chute to the capping heads. Suchmeans takes the form of an airblast nozzle I23 directed through anopening in the bottom of the chute substantially tangential to the curvethereof. air delivered from this nozzle tends to slightly lift thecrowns as they slide down the chute and imparts to them a forwardmovement, so that they do not hesitate in their transfer from themouth'of the chute to the crown receiving platforms in the cappingheads.

The present invention also includes a new and improved form of wipingelement adapted to roll and wipe the delivered crowns into prop-- erlyseated position in the platforms. The wiper element I25 is provided witha shoulder I26 adiacent the mouth of the chute and also with anelongated arm I2'I. sitioned in the head 'I2I; its periphery will abutthe shoulder I28 as the head movesin its path laterally away from themouth of the chute, and Q this shoulder normally will force the cap intoproper position. If the cap should be positioned in such manner that 'itwould tend to become wedged between the corner I220 of the crownreceiving platform and the shoulder I25, it might be forced past theshoulder without being delivered to the platform, and to prevent this, I

provide the elongated arm I21. The rolling and The blast of If a cap isimproperly pofixed toa pivot pin I2l. 'which pin is provided iectinglever arm I20. .A tension spring is con adjacent its upper end withanoutwardly' pro t nd or this am to. swing thswi er into p rativeposition. a a

' Preferably, the crown feeding mechanism "of the present invention isprovided with a psir of similar wiping elements. one at'each aided! thechutasothat the machine will operate equally well with a right or lefthand feed. In the normsl operation of themachine, the extra. wiperelement performs an advantageous function in 7';-

position in said-platforms, said wiper comprising that it serves tocorrectly seat any crowns which may have been carried around in acapping head without being applied to a bottle.

I claim:-

1. In a machine of the class described, an infeed spider, an outfeedspider, a capping turret, and a guide between said spiders and adaptedto cooperate with the spiders to effect a transfer of bottles to andfrom the capping turret, said turret comprising a plurality ofvertically movable bottle rests mounted for revolution about a verticalaxis, each of said rests havinga plane, uninterrupted, upper bottlesupporting surface arranged to pass under said guide in substantiallywiping contact with the lower edge thereof, when said rest is at itslower limit of movement, whereby the bottle supporting surfaces of saidrests will be cleaned after leaving the outfeed spider and beforepresentation to the infeed' spider.

2. In a machine of the class described, a substantially horizontalplatform, an infeed spider,

an outfeed spider, a capping turret, and a guide overlying said platformbetween said spiders and adapted to facilitate transfer of bottles toand from the capping turret by said spiders, said turret comprising aplurality of vertically movable bottle rests mounted for revolutionabout a vertical axis and having plane, uninterrupted bottle supportingsurfaces disposed substantially in the plane of said platform when saidrests are at their lower limit of movement and are in bottle receivingand discharging position, said plane upper bottle supporting surfaces ofsaid rests being arranged to pass under said guide when in the plane ofsaid table in substantially wiping contact with the lower edge thereof,whereby said surfaces will be cleaned after leaving the outfeedmountedfor revolution about a common axis and each having a substantially planehorizontal uninterrupted bottle supporting surface, and a guide memberhaving its lower surface closely overlying said platform, said conveyingmeans and said bottle rests, said member being positioned substantiallyto wipe each rest of trash or broken glass situated thereon and totransfer the same to said conveying means for removal thereby.

d. A machine of the class described comprising a substantiallyhorizontal platform, bottle conveying means disposed substantially inthe plane of said platform, a plurality of vertically reciprocablebottle rests each mounted for revolution about a common axis and havingspaced receiv- -ing and discharge positions adjacent said con-= veyingmeans, a stationary bottle guide positioned between said receiving anddischarge positions to. facilitate transfer of bottles in and from saidrests, said guide having its lower surface substantially contacting thebottle supporting surface of each rest to wipe the same prior to itsreception of a new bottle at said receiving position and after each resthas passed said discharge position.

' 5. In a capping apparatus, the combination with a crown feeding chuteand a plurality of capping heads arranged to move past said chute andprovided with crown receiving platforms, of

a pivotally mounted wiper for wiping crowns into.

a shouldered portion adjacent the mouth of the chute and arigid'elongated arm associated with.

said shouldered portion for pivotal movement therewith, said armextending a substantial distance along the path of travel of saidcapping heads, said'shoulder being positioned to normally deliver crownsto said receiving platforms, said capping heads arranged to move pastsaid chute and provided with crown receiving platforms, of Y a pair ofpivotally mounted similar wipers for wiping crowns into position in saidplatforms, said wipers each being located on opposite sides of saidchute, eachof said wipers comprising a shoulder adjacentfthe mouth ofsaid chute and a rigid elongated farm extending a. substantial distancealong the path of travel ofsaid capping heads, said shoulderof saidwiper first contacted by said crowns being positioned to normallydeliver crowns into said receiving platforms and said elongated armthereof serving to deliver to said platforms by rolling and wipingaction any abnormally positioned crowns not delivered thereinto by saidshoulder, said other wiper on the other side of said chute serving towipe into position in said platforms any crowns carried around with saidcapping heads without being applied to said bottle.

7. In a capping apparatus, the combination ping heads arranged to movepast said chute and provided with crown receiving platforms, of apivotally' mounted wiper for wiping crowns into position in saidplatform, and means including a spring tending to swing said. wipertoward said capping heads, said wiper having a shoulder adjacent themouth of said chute and having an with a crown feeding chute and aplurality of capintegral elongated rigid arm extending a substantialdistance along the path of travel of said capping heads, said shoulderbeing positioned to normally deliver crowns to said receiving platforms,said elongated arm serving to deliver to said receiving platforms byrolling and wiping 'action,any abnormaly positioned crowns not deliveredthereinto by said shoulder.

8. In a capping apparatus, the'combination with a crown feeding chuteand a plurality of cappingheads arranged to move past said chute andprovided with crown receiving platforms, of a pivotally mounted wiperfor wiping crowns into position in said platform's, andmeans tend ing toswing said wiper toward said capping heads,

said means comprising a pivoted pin to which said wiper is secured, anarm on said pin, and

a spring connected to said arm, said wiper having a shoulder adjacentthe mouth of said chute and a rigid elongated arm associated therewithand extending a substantial distance along the path of travel of saidcapping heads, said shoulder being positioned to normally deliver crownsto said receiving platforms, said elongated arm serving to deliver tosaid receiving platforms by rolling and wiping action, any abnormallypositioned crowns not delivered thereinto by said shoulder.

9. In a bottle treating and handling machine, a stationary platform, arotary table, a plurality of vertically movable bottle rests associatedwith said table having plane uninterrupted upper surfaces substantiallyflush with the table when at their lower position, and a bottletransferring -guide extending over a portion of the table and theplatform and overlying said rests during a portion of their movement intheir lowered position during rotation of the table, the lower edge ofthe guide being positioned substantially in wiping contact with theupper surface of the.

table and the upper surfaces of the bottle rests as the latter passtherebeneath, whereby said guide serves to clean the surfaces of thetable and rests of broken glass and trash.

wmr'm I. GLADEELTER.

